Montgomery woman indicted on charges related to a $1.3 million tax fraud scheme

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- A Montgomery woman was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to commit theft of public funds and to defraud the Internal Revenue Service, the Justice Department released today.

Scottie Alice Johnson is accused of conspiring with others to defraud the IRS and commit theft of public funds between 2006 and 2012, according to U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama George L. Beck.

Co-conspirators filed false federal income tax returns with stolen identities and had refunds directly deposited into several bank accounts, including bank accounts in the name of Scottie Alice Johnson and another individual, according to the indictment. The bank accounts associated with the conspiracy received at least $1.3 million in false tax refunds.

If convicted, Johnson faces five years imprisonment for the conspiracy count and 10 years imprisonment for each theft of public funds count. Johnson is also subject to fines, mandatory restitution, and forfeiture.